DISCLAIMER: Super long post. Couldn't really make my argument any other way.

I don't like their game in the defensive end and they were very easy to play against this season.

Chara battled injuries and fatigue all year and has been burned up and down the ice as result. I think he is not the player he was in the past but he is not "all done" like everyone is rushing to conclude. He will prove you wrong next season. Hopefully someone can either be added or step up to cut his minutes.

Seidenberg. Recovering from full knee reconstruction. Usually takes a full year. I have faith that the 33 year old fitness freak has a few good years left. He was playing better towards the end of year.

Hamilton. Great offensively. Not enough nasty in him. Needs to be more physical and needs to improve upon the turnovers and bad passes out of the D zone. Does not clear or cover guys in front of net enough.

Krug. Too small to be a top 4. Power play specialist. Kid has the heart just not the body.

McQuaid. When he is not injured, he is a mediocre #6 guy. I think Miller is a cheaper option with more upside. Having McQuaid in your top 4 like the B's did this year is terrible news.

Bartkowksi. Buh-Bye! Should have played anyone over this kid. I gave him another chance this year as underneath all the turnovers is a really good skater and puck mover. Not a fit for defense oriented system. Should have been replaced but to me that speaks volumes about the lack of defensive depth on the farm.

Trotman, Morrow, Breen, Warsofsky, Cross... These guys were used sparingly if at all. Even with the injuries Bartkowski got the nod over them. Not good.

The defensive core no longer has a shut down guy on it. How you don't see it as problem is sort of baffling. Even if the Bruins add one guy to boost scoring, it won't be enough as this is a weakened group and they did and will allow a higher volume of goals against. Again, a healthy Chara and Seidenberg make this much much better but another tough to play against d-man who is top 4 material is really needed.

If Hamilton is not going to be a tougher guy and more of a puck mover then the Bruins need a solid shutdown guy to compliment him. Or he needs to add that missing element to his game and be the elite defender he is projected to be.
- glove_was_stuck

agree for the most part, I;m thinking Krug has been overvalued by the faithful,.. and MdQuaid really stepped up his game at the end of the year when forced into more responsibility. I can see him being a solid 3-4 d man.

agree for the most part, I;m thinking Krug has been overvalued by the faithful,.. and MdQuaid really stepped up his game at the end of the year when forced into more responsibility. I can see him being a solid 3-4 d man.
- 77emac77

Thanks! However, I'm not really sold on McQuaid. Guy gets hurt a lot.

Also yes, I do realize that the Bruins need guys who can score too. That's been obvious for a couple years now. The Bruins need to retool a few things at the moment.

Thanks! However, I'm not really sold on McQuaid. Guy gets hurt a lot.

Also yes, I do realize that the Bruins need guys who can score too. That's been obvious for a couple years now. The Bruins need to retool a few things at the moment.
- glove_was_stuck

Bruins need players who can score. got it.

agree for the most part, I;m thinking Krug has been overvalued by the faithful,.. and MdQuaid really stepped up his game at the end of the year when forced into more responsibility. I can see him being a solid 3-4 d man.
- 77emac77

You think Krug is overvalued?!!? REALLY?!? If anything he is undervalued... Dude was in the top 10 on the team in points, second in defensemen only behind Hamilton (not to mention he basically doubled Chara in points)... he has the second best +/- on the team, and do you remember our power play before he came up? We might as well have just said we'd forfeit the powerplay and stick with 5 on 5!

Bruins need players who can score. got it.
- Fountain-San

Well good. Hope it helps.

You think Krug is overvalued?!!? REALLY?!? If anything he is undervalued... Dude was in the top 10 on the team in points, second in defensemen only behind Hamilton (not to mention he basically doubled Chara in points)... he has the second best +/- on the team, and do you remember our power play before he came up? We might as well have just said we'd forfeit the powerplay and stick with 5 on 5!
- mixturebill

Yup. Not crazy about him being a top 4 guy in a playoff run.

Yup. Not crazy about him being a top 4 guy in a playoff run.
- glove_was_stuck

Well they do need to make the playoffs before we can see that happen anyways

Learning curve

____________------___________________
- glove_was_stuck

sakic curve

In most things I think DJ Bean is a weenis.....But this article about Hamilton is spot on.

http://bigbadblog.weei.co...-for-as-long-as-they-can/

He IS ALREADY a stud.

Does he make stupid turnovers? Yes. But he is better than the other stud D-man were at 21!

War-on-ice.com...........check some of the advanced stats yourself. He is underrated.

FYI......maybe we are better off with "defined" roles on the team. Meaning that if Dougie is our "star stud d-man" we don't need to worry about him also needing to drop the gloves or take "nasty" penalties.

Let Quaider or Miller or some other guys be a Richard.......we in Boston fall in love with guys that do everything pretty good instead of letting guys like thorny just fight and guys like Kessel just score.

It's why we way overvalue Lucic.

sakic curve

- DDM-Coga

Best curve ever! Still use it although now it's backstrom/ovechkin

Best curve ever! Still use it although now it's backstrom/ovechkin
- glove_was_stuck

My curve is slightly to the right, towards the knee...

Oh.... you said "stick" curve.

never mind boys, carry on.....

My curve is slightly to the right, towards the knee...

Oh.... you said "stick" curve.

never mind boys, carry on.....
- MrBeanTown

Hi!

Best curve ever! Still use it although now it's backstrom/ovechkin
- glove_was_stuck

me too. i use warrior sticks so it was kopitar, now henrique.

Best curve ever! Still use it although now it's backstrom/ovechkin
- glove_was_stuck

I still have an old wood stick with a paul coffee blade. I dont use it because my slap shots go into orbit.


10 years ago I found a great sale at a Canadian Tire, was 10 composite blades for 100 bucks. So I bought them. They are all Jason Allison curves which rock. Still have 3 left.

I still have an old wood stick with a paul coffee blade. I dont use it because my slap shots go into orbit.


10 years ago I found a great sale at a Canadian Tire, was 10 composite blades for 100 bucks. So I bought them. They are all Jason Allison curves which rock. Still have 3 left.
- dothedougie

what do you use for shafts?

I still have an old wood stick with a paul coffee blade. I dont use it because my slap shots go into orbit.


10 years ago I found a great sale at a Canadian Tire, was 10 composite blades for 100 bucks. So I bought them. They are all Jason Allison curves which rock. Still have 3 left.
- dothedougie

Wow are you using a composite shaft? I have a aluminum shaft with a composite blade as my backup's backup. I used to love that thing now it feels wrong.

me too. i use warrior sticks so it was kopitar, now henrique.
- Fountain-San

Never tried Warriors. What did you switch from?

Never tried Warriors. What did you switch from?
- glove_was_stuck

a few of the original Easton Synergy's and then mostly Innovatives.

Warrior bought Innovative so it was an easy switch.

Hi!
- glove_was_stuck

I knew this would bring all the boys to the yard, Ala my Milkshake.